Pharmacological characterization of the 3D MucilAir™ nasal model

The preclinical evaluation of nasally administered drug candidates requires screening studies based on in vitro models of the nasal mucosa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morpho-functional characteristics of the 3D MucilAir™ nasal model with a pharmacological focus on [ATP]-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporters. We initially performed a phenotypic characterization of the MucilAir™ model and assessed its barrier properties by immunofluorescence (IF), protein mass spectrometry and examination of histological sections. We then focused on the functional expression of the ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP)1, MRP2 and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in bidirectional transport experiments. The MucilAir™ model comprises a tight, polarized, pseudo-stratified nasal epithelium composed of fully differentiated ciliated, goblet and basal cells. These ABC transporters were all expressed by the cell membranes. P-gp and BCRP were both functional and capable of actively effluxing substrates. The MucilAir™ model could consequently represent a potent tool for evaluating the interaction of nasally administered drugs with ABC transporters.